Refrigeration apparatus and associated methods

A refrigeration system comprising:

• a plurality of refrigeration containers positioned in a predetermined area, each of the plurality of refrigeration containers having a bottom, a top positioned spaced-apart from and overlying the bottom, a plurality of sidewalls positioned to extend between the bottom and the top, a rear wall extending between the bottom and the top adjacent the sidewalls and a front wall extending between the bottom and the top adjacent the sidewalls and having a front access opening positioned opposite the rear wall, the top of each of the refrigeration containers including an intake opening and an output opening formed therein, the intake opening formed in the top and positioned adjacent the rear wall and the output opening formed in the top and positioned substantially opposite the intake opening and adjacent the front wall of the refrigeration container;
• a plurality of thermally insulated housings positioned within the predetermined area to overlie the plurality of refrigeration containers so that one thermally insulated housing overlies one refrigeration container, each of the plurality of thermally insulated housings including a bottom having a first predetermined width, a top having a second predetermined width and positioned spaced-apart from and overlying the bottom, and a plurality of sidewalls positioned to extend between the top and the bottom, each of the plurality of thermally insulated housings further including an intake and an output positioned so that the intake of one of the plurality of insulated housings overlies the intake opening of one of the plurality of refrigeration containers and the output of one of the plurality of insulated housings overlies the output opening of one of the plurality of refrigeration containers;
• a plurality of evaporators positioned within the predetermined area and within the plurality of insulated housings between the intake and the output to overlie the bottom of the thermally insulated housings so that one of the plurality of evaporators is positioned within one of the plurality of thermally insulated housings, each of the plurality of evaporators including a plurality of fans positioned at a predetermined angle adjacent the intake, and a cooling coil positioned closely adjacent the plurality of fans so that the plurality of fans extend substantially the length of the cooling coil to move warm air from within the refrigeration container, through the intake opening of the refrigeration container, into the intake of the insulated housing, over the cooling coil, to the output of the insulated housing, through the output opening of the refrigeration container, and into the refrigeration container as cool air, the cool air flowing downwardly from the output opening to define a cool air curtain adjacent the front wall of the refrigeration container;
• a plurality of condensers positioned exterior the predetermined area and connected to the plurality of evaporators positioned within the predetermined area so that a cooling gas positioned within each of the plurality of condensers is condensed into a cooling liquid that is passed through the cooling coil in each of the plurality of evaporators;
• a plurality of drain pans positioned within the predetermined area so that a respective one of each of the plurality of drain pans underlies a respective one of the plurality of evaporators positioned within the insulated housings to collect condensate from each of the plurality of evaporators;
• and
• a common drain line positioned within the predetermined area so that a respective one of each of the plurality of drain pans is positioned to extend to an in fluid communication with the common drain line so that the condensate collected in each of the drain pans is readily removed by the common drain line to a position exterior the predetermined area.